High efficiency aspirator for inflatable emergency slides

Abstract

An aspirator assembly for inflating an emergency slide is disclosed. The aspirator assembly includes a bell housing, a mixing chamber, and a nozzle assembly. The bell housing includes a ring defining an inlet port at which a check valve is located and into which ambient air can flow. The mixing chamber has an outlet port. The nozzle assembly is located in the mixing chamber and includes plural passageway sections defining concentric rings and cross bars. The passageway sections include internal passageways in communication with plural nozzle jets through which a compressed air is introduced into the mixing chamber to mix with the ambient air. The passageway sections are of an airfoil shape cross-section having a rounded leading end directed towards the inlet port and a trailing end is directed toward the outlet port to reduce air turbulence within the mixing chamber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This non-provisional application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of Application Ser. No. 62 / 529,094 filed on Jul. 6, 2017 entitled HIGH EFFICIENCY ASPIRATOR FOR INFLATABLE EMERGENCY SLIDES and whose entire disclosure is incorporated by reference herein.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not ApplicableINCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISK[0003]Not ApplicableFIELD OF THE INVENTION[0004]This invention relates generally to devices for inflating inflatable devices, and more particularly to aspirator assemblies configured for the rapid inflation and deployment of inflatable structures, e.g., evacuation slides, rafts and the like.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0005]Many inflation systems are currently available for effecting the rapid inflation of emergency evacuation slides and life-rafts. Such inflation systems typically make use of an aspirator assembly into which a press...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent is about an aspirator assembly used to inflate inflatable emergency evacuation devices. It includes a bell housing, a mixing chamber, and a nozzle assembly. The bell housing has an ambient air inlet port and an outlet port connected to an emergency evacuation inflatable device. The mixing chamber has a primary gas inlet port and multiple nozzle jets. The nozzle assembly has a symmetrical cambered shape that reduces turbulent flow of ambient air around it. The technical effects of this patent are a more efficient and effective inflation of inflatable devices in emergency situations.

Problems solved by technology

In particular, the rapid introduction of the pressurized primary gas into the nozzle assembly creates a venture effect adjacent the nozzle jets to produce result in partial vacuum within the aspirator assembly chamber.

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